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Do you or any of the flatchat participants have any suggestions to this practical dilemma?
A strata committee for a 9-floor, 32 apartment building with only one lift, which is becoming increasingly unreliable, has to decide on how to ensure the safety of residents when the lift is out of operation.
Fire safety standards quite rightly require that a fire door must not be chocked open. When you enter the stair well, you must descend to the exit.
However, in a situation where the lift is not operational, and it is NOT a fire situation, this can mean that a person who exits via the fire stairs cannot return as the fire doors are closed for people on the inside of the stairwell. And, a person who, for example, who needs to go to the aid of another during this time cannot access the floor of the person in need because the fire door does not open onto the floor.
I have no interest or desire in advocating any measures that would undermine fire safety (quite the contrary). It is a practical issue, and I’d be very interested in any suggestions or accepted standards/measures in other buildings as this must be a common problem with ageing lifts in the period leading up to their refurbishment/replacement.
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Toretti I know of an eight story strata building in the CBD which last year replaced it’s lift, after giving everyone six months notice. Prior to commencement of work they rekeyed with a security key all fire stair locks on each floor, with a different key per floor, but all keys being able to open the door on the street level. Keys were then distributed to residents based upon the number of bedrooms and number of people registered on the strata roll.
They also put battery operated sensors on each door (from Jaycar or similar) which alarmed if left open for more than 60 seconds I believe.
For the first few days there was absolute chaos, particularly with the units illegally housing seven or eight students in a one bedroom unit, with only one name on the lease, and as such only one key issued.
After the first week it settled down, and funnily enough quite a bit of community spirit end up appearing, with people assisting their neighbours in carrying groceries up the many floors. A few residents, particularly the less mobile, stayed with friends and family during the lift replacement, which would not have been convenient but was understood to be necessary.
The building now has a shiny new lift, and lot less overcrowding!
You don’t have to prop the door open, just disengage the locks until the work is done. This then becomes a security issue rather than fire safety but you just need to make sure your security is covered in other ways. You might also position some chairs on the fifth floor for residents who might need to take a rest.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
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